Top cover for cook stoves



Oct. 6, 1936. G. E. PICKUP 2,056,737

TOP COVER FOR COOK STOVES Filed March 8, 1953 VIII/III VIIIIIIIIII/III.

Invanfar" Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOP COVER FOR COOK STOVES of Ohio Application March 8, 1933, Serial No. 659,992

10 Claims.

The invention relates in general to a hinged cooking top cover for a gas range, or the like, and in particular to a mechanism for retaining the hinged cover in opened or raised position.

A general object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism having operating parts which are simple, sturdy, and of a nature to permit of a concealed location in the range or stove.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of the character described, which operates automatically as the cover is raised to open position positively to lock the same in that position.

Another object is to provide a mechanism free from springs and similar elements which may in time lose their resiliency and thus render the mechanism inoperative.

These objects, together with other and ancillary advantages set forth in the following detailed description, are attained by the embodiment shown, by way of illustration, in the drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a gas range, the cover of which is retained in raised position by a mechanism embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal view taken approximately along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken approximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the mechanism released to permit closing movement of the cover.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the positions of the various elements composing the mechanism when the cover is closed.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the mechanism is shown employed in a gas range having a double-walled, cookingtop cover 9 hinged to swing about its rear edge. Only such portions of the gas range necessary to provide a support for the cover and for the mechanism are here shown. That which is shown represents the burner box, the top of which is defined by the stepped, inwardly and downwardly projecting flange I forming a support for the grids, not shown. The hinge for the cover 9 is formed by trunnion strips II bolted to and projecting upwardly from the side walls of the burner box, and a hinge rod I2 extending between the trunnions and projecting through flanges formed on the edges of the cover 9.

Generally stated, the mechanism which I have provided for holding the hinged cover 9 in open .or upright position comprises an arm I3 fixed to the cover -9 adjacent its hinged edge, and having a free end projecting intothe burner box. Pivotally mounted in the burner box in cooperating relation to the arm I3 is a latch member I4 adapted to be swung automatically, when the -.5 cover is fully open, into the path of the arm I3 to a position positively preventing closing of the cover. Release of the mechanism is efiected by manually rotating the .latch member I4 out of the path of the arm by a tripdevice I actuated :10 by a pull rod I6. Preferably the'arm I3, the latch member I 4 and the trip device I5 are duplicated at opposite side edges of the cover in order to hold the latter more firmly in its raised or open position; but both tripdevices are arranged for actuation by the rod I6.

The arm I3 is generally arcuate inshape'and substantially a quadrant of a circle, having its center of curvature approximately coincident with the hinge axis of the cover9. The arm is rigid with the cover 9 and projects into the burner box through a slot I'I formed in the uppermostportion of the flange III. When the'cover 9 is openedto a vertical position (see Fig. 3) the free end of the arm I3 extends just within the burner box and terminates in an abutting edge I3 Opening movement of the-cover is limited to a vertical position of the cover by a toe I3 projecting forwardly from the end of the arm and engaging the top of the burner box.

Cooperating with the .arm I3 to support the cover in open position is the latch member, generally designated I4, pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the plane ofthe arm I3. The-latch member I4 is ,counterweighted to.swing ina counter-clockwise direction as .viewed .in Fig. 3, and is positioned and designed tohave a portion riding on the outer edge of the-arm I3, as is best seen in Fig. 5. As the cover is opened the latch member I4 is cammed by the arm I3 to rotate in a clockwise direction until the arm passes upwardly beyond the reach of the latch member whereupon it is swung by gravity into the path of the arm below the free end thereof .45 and abutting the edge I3 In order that the latch i4, when in that position, may be effective to support the weight of the .cover 9, its pivot point is so located with respect to the pointof engagement with the edge I3 of the arm I3, that ,50 the weight of thecoveris ineffective torotate the latch in a clockwise direction and thus incapable of causing a release of the arm. Accordingly, the pivot of the latch member I4 preferably is so positioned that .the line of force representing the weight of the cover 9 passes through the pivot point and thus creates no turning moment whatever.

Herein the latch member M has the form of and takes the position of a reclining L with.an upwardly projecting stop lug l8, constituting the portion riding on the arm l3, and a rearwardly extendingweighted portion l9. The latch member is pivoted at the heel of the L on a bracket 20 secured on the side wall of the burner box.

Preferably, the stop lug H3 is of substantial width at its free end to insure engagement with the edge l3 of the arm, and is of such length that the pivot of the latch M will not be struck by the arm l3 as the cover swings to closed position.

To limit the counter-clockwise rotation of the latch member M as the lug I8 is swung below the arm and to position the member so that the .point of.engagement between the lug I8 and the edge I3 is substantially vertically above the pivot of the latch member, arresting means is provided on the free end of the arm I3. In the present instance such means is formed by causing the abutting edge l3 to slope downwardly from front to rear, the edge being so located when the cover is fully open, that the lug I 8 just passes below' the forward end thereof. The slope of the edge I3 is preferably small so that there is no tendency of the edge l3 to cam the lug l8 out of engagement therewith. It will thus be seen that when the stop lug l8 swings below the ;edge l3 the cover 9 is rigidly held by the toe |3 and the latch member l4 against both closing or opening movement.

Release of the mechanism is effected by manually rotating the latch member l4 against gravity in a clockwise direction to withdraw the stop lug l8 from below the free end of the arm l3. For that purpose, the trip device I is providedwhich may be manipulated from the front of the gas range. Herein the trip device I5 is constructed so that the two latch members at opposite edges of the cover may be released simultaneously by the operation of the rod l6.

Thus I provide a shaft 2| extending the full width of the burner box and having its opposite ends bent to form the trip devices. The shaft is supported in brackets 22 on the rear wall of the burner box and each end of the shaft 2| terminates in a crank arm 23 underlying the rearwardly projecting portion [9 of the latch member H. To operate the cranks 23, the shaft 2| is adapted to be rocked by the pull rod l6 which is connected at its inner end with a crank 24 formed at one end of the shaft 2| as a part 'of the crank arm 23 but lying in a plane substantially at right angles thereto. At its outer end the rod I6 projects through the front wall of the burner box and terminates in a knob 25.

The normal position of the trip devices I5 is with the crank arm 23 rotated as far as possible in a clockwise direction as permitted by the rod |6 when pushed in its maximum distance. In such position the crank 23 permits the stop lug |8 of the latch member to ride on the arm. l3 when the cover is closed, or to swing below the free end of the arm when the cover is opened. When the'cover is open, the counter-clockwise rotation of the latch member I4 is limited and the position of the member determined by the arresting means on the. free end of the arm l3 as above described. The abnormal position of the trip device I5 is with therod l6 pulled out.

In that position the shaft 2| is rocked in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the crank arm 23 swings the latch member to withdraw the stop lug l8 from engagement with the arm I3, as shown in Fig. 4. The cover may then be closed and the rod l5 pushed in to return the latch member to normal position. In order that the crank arm 23 may not pass beyond the rear end of the latch member, the latter is formed with a downwardly projecting lug 26 at the extreme rear end.

The arm I3 preferably is formed from a thin sheet of metal and is provided at its fixed end with a base portion 21 bent at right angles to the arcuate portion and by means of which it is welded to the top wall of the cover 9. A slot 28 is provided in the rear Wall of the burner box to permit the end of the arm l3 to project therethrough when the cover is closed.

The operation of the mechanism is, briefly, as follows: With the cover 9 closed and the rod I6 pushed in, the stop lug l8 of the latch member |4 bears against the outer edge of the arm I3, as in Fig. 5. The cover may then be opened and secured in open position simply by raising the cover, the locking of the cover by the mechanism being entirely automatic. During such opening movement the lug 8 rides on the arm l3 until the arm passes beyond the reach of the lug whereupon the latch member is swung by gravity in a counterclockwise direction. The latch member is arrested by the engagement of the lug l8 with the sloping edge l3 of the arm and is so positioned that the line of force representing the weight of the cover passes through or to the rear of the pivot of the latch member, as in Fig. 3. The cover is thus rigidly locked against either opening or closing movement.

To release the cover for closing movement the rod I6 is pulled out thereby rocking the crank arm 23 to swing the latch member out of engagement with the arm l3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The cover is then closed and the rod |6 pushed in to return the crank 23 to normal position and permit the latch to swing to normal position also.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a simple mechanism which operates automatically to retain the cover in open position and is conveniently released by a simple operation. The parts of the mechanism are few and sturdy and do not depend. on resilient means for their operation. Furthermore, the construction is such that either a single mechanism or two mechanisms may be employed to support the cover and the mechanisms conveniently arranged to be released simultaneously by a single pull rod.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In a gas range having a burner box and a cover therefor hinged at its rear edge to swing about a horizontal axis, a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position comprising an arcuate arm rigid with the cover in substantially concentric relation to the hinge axis and with its free end projecting into the burner box, a latch member pivoted to swing in a plane parallel with said arm, said member having an upwardly projecting stop lug adapted to ride on the outer edge of said arm during substantially all,

means for rotating said latch member to withdraw the lug from beneath said arm to permit closing of the cover.

2. In a gas range having a burner box and a cover therefor hinged at its rear edge, a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position comprising an arcuate arm rigid with the cover and having its free end projecting into the burner box, a latch member pivoted below said arm, and having a stop lug riding on the outer edge of said arm when the cover is closed, said latch member being counter-weighted to swing the lug below the free end of said arm when the cover is open, means on the free end of said arm to limit the rotation of said latch member and to position the same with said lug engaging said arm so that the weight of the cover acts between the pivot and the weighted end of said latch, and a crank arm engaging said latch member to rotate said latch to withdraw the lug from beneath said arm.

3. In a gas range having a burner box and a cover therefor hinged at its rear edge, a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position comprising, an arcuate arm rigid at one end with the cover and having its free end projecting into the burner box, a latch member pivotally mounted in the burner box having a lug riding on said arm when the cover is closed and a counterweighted portion extending rearwardly to swing the lug below the free end of said arm when the cover is open, means arresting the rotation of said latch member to position the same with the lug engaging said arm rearwardly of a point vertically above the pivot point of said latch member, a crank engaging said latch member and a pull rod extending to the front of said range for rocking said crank to withdraw the lug from beneath said arm.

4. In a gas range, having a cover hinged at its rear edge to swing about a horizontal axis, a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position, comprising an arcuate arm rigid with the cover, a latch member swingable by gravity into the path of said arm when the cover is opened and engaging said arm at a point substantially vertically above the pivot point of said latch, a crank engaging said latch member to rotate the same out of the path of said arm, and a pull rod for rocking said crank extending to the front of the range.

5. In a gas range or the like, in combination with a cover, designed to swing about a horizontal axis, a mechanism for supporting the cover in upright position, comprising an arcuate arm rigid with the cover, a latch member pivotally mounted to be swung by gravity into the path of said arm when the cover is opened, said latch member contacting said arm at a point substantially vertically above the pivot of said latch member, and a manually operable crank for rotating said latch member against gravity to withdraw the same from the path of said arm.

6. In a gas range, or the like, having a cover hingedly mounted to swing about a horizontal axis, a mechanism for supporting the cover in upright position comprising an arcuate arm rigid with the cover, a latch member pivoted for rotation in a vertical plane and having a lug bearing against said arm to be rotated thereby in one direction in the opening movement of the cover, said latch member being counterweighted to rotate in the opposite direction to assume a position in the path of said arm when: the cover is fully opened, and manually operated means for rotating said latch member out of the path of said arm.

'7. In a gas range or the like, having a cover hingedly mounted on a horizontal axis, a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position comprising an arm rigid with the cover, a pivotally mounted latch member adapted to swing into engagement with said arm when the cover is opened, said arm and latch member being positioned and engaging in a manner to produce substantially only a linear force acting on thepivot of said latch member thereby enabling the cover to be supported by said latch member, and. means for rotating said latch member to disengage it from said arm.

8. In a gas range, having a cover swingable about a horizontal axis, a pair of arms projecting from opposite side edges of the cover, a latch member pivotally mounted below each of said arms and swingable by gravity into the path of said arms when the cover is opened, said latch members engaging said arms positively to prevent closing of said cover, a shaft extending between the latch members and operable torotate the same out of the path of said arms, and a pull rod connected to said shaft to rock the same and release the cover for closing movement.

9. In a gas range having a burner box and. a cover therefor hinged at its rear edge, an arcuate arm at each side edge of the cover rigid with the cover at one end and with its free end projecting into the burner box, a latch member pivotally mounted in the burner box below each of said arms, said latch member having a portion riding on said arm when the cover is closed and counterweighted to swing the portion below the free end of said arm when the cover is open to support the cover in open position, a shaft terminating in a crank arm at each end engaging said latch member to swing the same from below the free end of said arms, and a pull rod extending to the front of the range and adapted to rock said shaft to release the cover.

10. In a gas range or the like having a cover hinged at one edge to swing about a horizontal axis, .a mechanism for supporting the cover in open position, comprising an arm connected at one end to the cover and projecting laterally therefrom and a pivotally mounted eccentric latch member having an end swingable by gravity below and into the path of said arm when the cover is opened and engaging the free end of said arm at a point substantially vertically above the pivot of said latch so that the force of said arm is ineffective to swing said latch, and manually operable means for rotating said latch out of the path of said arm to permit closing of the cover.

GEORGE E. PICKUP. 

